It’s actually the entire defence the Eagles have to be concerned about while protecting the health of Nick Foles. Chicago had 50 sacks during the regular season, which was tied for third most in the league. Mack (12.5) makes things happen elsewhere by drawing double-team blocking. When he’s 1-on-1, he’s very tough to handle. Veteran right tackle Lane Johnson will be face mask to face mask with him often, although Johnson could switch over to the left side if outstanding veteran Jason Peters can’t play. Peters is dealing with a quadriceps issue, and if he is out or limited that will give more reps to Halapoulivaati Vaitai, who does have Super Bowl experience as a starter. As a whole, the Eagles did a mediocre job of keeping their quarterbacks clean this season. They allowed 40 sacks, which was tied for 17th most in the league, and 102 quarterback hits, which was tied for 10th most. Losing Foles would surely cost them any chance at winning the game.

INSIDE THE GAME

Bears have covered the spread in nine of their last 10 games. Eagles have covered the spread five of their last 15 …. Bears lead the all-time series between the two teams 29-14-1, but the Eagles have won the last three … The teams haven’t seen each other since Nov. 26, 2017, when Carson Wentz threw three TD passes in a 31-3 victory in Philly. It was the seventh career start for Mitch Trubisky, and he was overwhelmed by the Eagles D … Eagles won their last playoff game against Chicago, 33-19, in 2002. They have taken two of three playoff meetings with the Bears … Bears led the league in defensive touchdowns with five, and also finished first in takeaways and interceptions … Eagles coach Doug Pederson (3-0) has never lost a playoff game, while Bears coach Matt Nagy is making his post-season debut … Eagles won their last three games to make the playoffs. Bears won nine of their last 10 … Bears were 7-1 at Soldier Field this season … Eagles, who have to win three road games in a road to become the first team to repeat as Super Bowl champions since the New England Patriots (2003, 2004), were 4-4 away from Lincoln Financial Field …Rookie RB Josh Adams led the Eagles ground game with 511 yards … Mitch Trubisky had four games with a quarterback rating of at least 120, the most in franchise history …WHO’S HURTING: The biggest injury update to watch for is on Bears’s all-pro safety Eddie Jackson (ankle), who will be a game-time decision. Losing him would be a blow to the Bears, although backup Deon Bush has played well as his replacement.

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH

ZACH ERTZ SO GOOD: The Eagles tight end had a season to remember. Included was a franchise record 116 catches that represent an NFL record for players at his position (eclipsing the 110 Jason Witten had in 2012) plus 1,163 yards and eight TDs. Since Nick Foles took over at quarterback for the injured Carson Wentz for Week 15, Ertz has led the Eagles in targets with 27, while Alshon Jeffery has 18 and Nelson Agholor 15. There’s definitely some chemistry between Ertz and Foles.

THE FOLES FACTOR: While we’re at it, the backup/Super Bowl MVP is up to his old tricks. After rallying the team to three wins against two good teams (Rams, Texans) and the Redskins, Foles is on an 8-0 run in December, January and February. The last time he lost a game he started and played in its entirety during those months was Dec. 205. And the last time we saw Foles – before exiting the Washington game with bruised ribs – he tied an NFL record with 25 consecutive completions. “The Foles Magic” has become a term used casually.

LITTLE BIG MEN: Chicago’s Tarik Cohen and the Eagles Darren Sproles are both 5-foot-6 and are both explosive players who can break a game open coming out of the backfield or returning punts. Cohen, a first time All-Pro who had 1,169 yards from scrimmage (including 725 receiving), calls the 35-year Sproles his idol, so he’ll have the extra motivation of one-upping him. It won’t be easy. In 10 career playoff games, Sproules has 715 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns.

LAYING IT ON THE FIELD: Jeffery created some headlines this week by calling Chicago just a place he worked, while expressing his affinity for Philly. He also dumped on the turf at Soldier Field, saying it’s horrible. A big and strong pass catcher, he’ll be looking to stick it to his old team just as much as the Bears secondary will be trying to shut it up. In one career game versus Chicago (a 31-3 Eagles win in Nov., 2017) Jeffery caught five of nine targets for 52 yards and one touchdown.

MITCH’S MOMENT: In his first playoff start, Trubisky doesn’t have to win the game for the Bears, he just has to make sure he doesn’t lose it. That means no interceptions for a guy who has had some accuracy issues this season. While all the talk has been about the Bears defence, Trubisky is sure to feel some head from Eagles outstanding tackle Fletcher Cox (who had three sacks and a forced fumble in Week 17) and Michael Bennett.

OUR TAKE

This is the Bears first playoff game, and first playoff game at home, since their 21-14 loss to the Packers in the 2010 NFC conference championship. Their fans are starved, and they are going to be crazy loud. Chicago’s fierce and ferocious defence is going to feed off that. Can’t see Foles and his bruised ribs making it to the end of this one, and if he somehow does, can’t see him continuing his stretch of magic against this D.

This Week's Flyers

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